Carnegie Call

In this weeks edition of Carnegie Call, Leeds Carnegie Director of Rugby Andy Key looks ahead to this Sunday's clash with Gloucester in the LV Cup at Headingley Carnegie, kick off 3pm.

HOW DANGEROUS DO YOU THINK GLOUCESTER WILL BE THIS WEEK?

It is less than a month since we met here in the Aviva Premiership so obviously we know each other pretty well having previewed and reviewed each other in the recent past. Gloucester had a big win in Europe last weekend and have won their last three games so they will come here full of confidence and I am sure hoping to reverse the result from New Years Day.

HOW DO YOU REFLECT ON LAST WEEKS GAME?

Looking back to last Sunday's game against Bucharest, we started the game positively with high energy levels and then finished in the same manner. We did the same thing against Stade Francais the previous week and that gives us a lot of confidence that we can play for the full eighty minutes and maintain the pressure on teams.
There was a frustrating spell in the middle of the game when we were unable to make the most of the possession we had. The majority of that was down to over enthusiasm and perhaps trying to score a try sooner rather than later and we need to learn to have patience with the ball. We did that in the second half and got our rewards for it.

HOW ARE YOU APPROACHING THIS WEEKEND'S GAME?

Over the next fortnight we have two games in the LV Cup and whilst the Cup is not a priority for us this season, it is important that we perform well in these next two games. We showed before Christmas with our wins over Crociati that having that winning momentum can bring results in the Aviva Premiership and that is exactly what we will be hoping for.

Rotherham Titans are ready for a combative encounter when they entertain West Yorkshire rivals Yorkshire Carnegie to Clifton Lane on Saturday in round 16 of the Greene King IPA Championship; kick-off is 2pm.